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You know what you guys lack in your life? Haru wo Daiteita by Youka Nitta. Allow me to introduce you!



Haru wo Daiteita has been translated as Embracing Love and is currently being published in the U.S. by BeBeautiful. It is the story of two Adult Video actors (aka Porn Stars), Kyousuke Iwaki and Yoji Katou, who are looking to move up in the acting world. A chance comes in the form of a movie offer by popular novelist, Sawa Nagisa. Both of them are asked to audition for the part. When they show up, Nagisa asks them to have sex with each other to compete for the part!

Iwaki is ultimately chosen to star along side Nagisa, but something seems to have changed in the rivalry between Iwaki and Katou. When the movie is a hit, it is turned into a television series. Iwaki is to pick up his role and Katou takes over Nagisa's part as Iwaki's lover. Iwaki and Katou begin a journey to turn themselves into successful and respectable actors. They also forge the beginnings of a turbulent, yet intensely loving relationship. Haru wo Daiteita follows as Iwaki and Katou navigate the pitfalls of the acting world and that crazy little thing called love.



Iwaki is the elder of the two and considers Katou to be an upstart, but also a rival. Despite his career as an AV actor, he remains quite reserved and serious. Katou has quite a time cracking his shell. Iwaki has a lot of doubts about himself and his acting, but with help from Katou, he slowly emerges as the actor that he's always wanted to be.


Katou is younger than Iwaki. He's also more exuberant and childish, but that only lets him express his love for Iwaki that much more intensely. Katou can be very rash and unthinking and it gets him into some predicaments, but with Iwaki as a calming presence by his side, he slowly matures into a man to make his lover proud.



Haru wo Daiteita is ten volumes strong and still running in Japan. It has spawned an OVA, a computer game, an art book and plenty of audio dramas. It was being put out by the recently bankrupt Biblos, but I'm sure that despite this setback, it will find a way to get back to us ^_^

Also, I've started a Youka Nitta Picture Post on the guild ^_^

You know I love you for sharing this series with me. Katou and Iwaki are so silly that I sometimes I wanna smack them upside the head. But then they do the cutest things and I'm like 'awww, it's okay they're so stupid 'cause they're so damn cute'.

I've grown a soft spot for Onozuka though. I wish there was more of him in this series. He's so sane! And with so many crazy, lusty actors a little sanity goes a long way. ^^ Katou should also love him 'cause one of the very few people who aren't trying to get in Iwaki's pants. <3 Yes, that pleases me too.

I totally love this series. When I have money, I'm buying all the volumes. XD

The OVA is gorgeous. The storyline is a little different, but overall, it still manages to capture the sentiments of the manga. The art and animation are really done well. It just renews my love for Katou and Iwaki. Seeing them on the screen in all their beautiful stupid cute glory is just wonderful ^___^

BeBeautiful, the same people putting out the manga, are going to be translating and putting out the OVA. I don't know of the timeframe, but I expect it will be sometime in the next year. EDIT: Scratch that, they seem to have lost the rights to it. Bugger!

No matter what format you get Haru in, it's really worth acquiring.

I've only read the first couple of volumes. I really like it. Good art, good characters, good storyline, good smut.

I feel like I'm missing so much.. In Canada, I -just- found the first Embracing Love manga.. ): Sigh. But I'm glad to hear there's an OVA. It's very sexy. :3

The Winter Cicadas OVAs recently came out in Japan. Anyone had an opportunity to watch them yet? I haven't gotten around to it. I'm a little hesitant because I know how sad the story is, but I still want to see it.

So this explains why I can't find the thread I started for this... It exists already sweatdrop I scnanned and couldn't find it... ANYWAY. I really liked this series. I've read the manga and just last night I managed to see the anime. I really liked the anime. Very sexy I must say... my train of thought gets kinda lost thinking about it... so anyway I'lljust send off with an I love it! heart

I watched the second OVA. It's so sad. ._. And there's one more to go! crying My hatred for Aizawa burns strong in my soul. ><

Also, the best way to tell how badly funded an anime project is during war scenes. Not that you couldn't noticed before. It's just especially noticeable. >.>

I am so going to cosplay as Akizuki in the Tokugawa retainer's uniform. *_*